STORRS — The last time the UConn football team began a season 0-6, linebackers coach Jon Wholley was four years from being born. Yes, 1977 was a long time ago.

Barring upsets of nationally ranked Central Florida (No. 21) this week and No. 18 Louisville in two weeks, the Huskies will tie the 1977 team for the worst start in program history at 0-8. There is little reason to believe UConn can beat either of those teams.

Then again, UConn's best performance this year came in its only other game against a ranked team when it nearly upset Michigan on Sept. 21. Maybe the Huskies can use that as some kind of motivator.

At this point, anything will do to keep enthusiasm among a group of players that is having a rough go of things.

"We have to tell them the truth, don't B.S. them," interim head coach T.J. Weist said Tuesday. "We're going to tell you the truth and sometimes you might not like it. We're not going to accept bad repetitions during practice, poor effort or distractions. But we're still going to be positive. I'm going to try to keep it light. If I focus on the bad things, then (the players) will go the other way. We're going to be positive and energetic."

That is Weist's biggest challenge at the moment. Losing, and looking bad most times in doing it, wears on every team, as much as those teams say it doesn't. When Weist took over, the Huskies hadn't yet begun American Athletic Conference play and were starting clean with their goals still attainable.

Now they sit 0-2 in the league, joining Memphis and Temple as the only teams in the AAC to not have a league victory. Worse, UConn is the only team in the league without a victory of any sort. And now it faces the toughest consecutive games of its season.

The only way to go is up, of course, but it's a long, arduous climb.

"I'm staying positive," safety Ty-Meer Brown said. "I've never had any thoughts about giving up on the season and I'm pretty sure my teammates haven't thought about that. We say it all the time but the only thing we can do is keep working.

"This coaching staff does a great job of keeping us positive and giving us energy. I trust what those guys have done and I appreciate what they have done."

Stepping back: In the three weeks since Paul Pasqualoni was fired, Weist has had to juggle being head coach, offensive coordinator and receivers coach. He said he might take a step back from the second of those roles.

A move is still being discussed but Weist said he will likely have quarterbacks coach Shane Day, running backs coach Kermit Buggs and offensive line coach Mike Foley get more involved in the play calling. The UConn offense ranks 116th nationally of 123 FBS teams.

"It's hard for me but the truth is our offense has not been very good," Weist said. "We have to improve. I want to make (the offense) enjoyable for the fans and our players. I want recruits to look at our offense and want to play in that offense.

"I don't want people to sit up in the stands and know what play is coming. My wife sits in the stands and hears it all the time, what play is coming. Sometimes she calls the plays."

How does she fare as a play caller?

"She may be better than me, I don't know," Weist joked. "I might have to try her out this week."

Changes: It was good of Weist to admit Tuesday that the depth chart put out by UConn on Sunday is little more than something for the media to report. Nevertheless, it has some interesting changes this week.

Marquise Vann is listed as the No. 1 middle linebacker ahead of Ryan Donohue. Vann started the last two games but this is the first time he has appeared as No. 1 on the depth chart.

"Marquise really stepped up and played well for us the last two games," Weist said. "He's always been a consistent player for us."

Fifth-year senior Tyler Bullock is listed as the starting right guard in place of the injured Gus Cruz. Tyler Samra was the starting right guard last week at Cincinnati.

Shakim Phillips is back to his No. 1 spot at one receiver position. Like Vann, he started the last two games but hadn't been listed as No. 1 and saw limited action against South Florida and Cincinnati as that hamstring injury has been slow to heal.

Running back Lyle McCombs has been inserted as the top punt returner, replacing freshman Brian Lemelle.

Extra points: UConn and Central Florida have never played in football, but there is some tangential connection. UCF coach George O'Leary was on the same staff as former UConn coach Randy Edsall at both Syracuse and Georgia Tech ... The Huskies have been outscored 82-28 in their two road games ... The Knights are off to their best six-game start since 1998 when they were also 5-1 ... A victory makes UCF bowl eligible for the sixth time in the last nine years ... Weist said the injuries to linebacker Graham Stewart (ankle) and cornerback Taylor Mack (neck/shoulder) aren't of the season-ending variety but each has been slow to improve.

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